Mission Statement

The employees of the Hawaiʻi Police Department are committed to preserving the Spirit of Aloha. We will work cooperatively with the community to enforce the laws, preserve peace, and provide a safe environment.

Vision Statement

The Hawaiʻi Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of police service and forming partnerships with the community to achieve public satisfaction making the Big Island a safe place to live, visit, and conduct business.

Core Values

Integrity

Professionalism

Compassion

Teamwork

Community Satisfaction

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Police Department

County of Hawaiʻi

2011–2012 Annual Report

I am pleased to submit the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012. During this fiscal year, we continued to make improvements to help provide the best possible service to our residents and visitors.

As you can see in the crime statistics at the end of this Annual Report, Hawaiʻi County’s robbery rate, property crime rate, burglary rate, larceny-theft rate and motor vehicle theft rate were the lowest in the state during Calendar Year 2011. The same was true for our overall index crime rate, which includes both violent and property crimes.

We continue to develop partnerships with the community so we can work together to keep you safe. Not only did we create a Keaʻau Agriculture Watch, similar to Neighborhood Watch, to help farmers and large landowners protect themselves from agricultural theft and illegal hunting, we also collaborated with citizens and reached a solution for providing officers with immediate access into gated communities during times of emergency.

Additionally, we were able to reinforce our presence in the field two ways: We completed a Mobile Data Terminal project that puts computers in patrol vehicles and allows officers to file reports from the areas they are patrolling. We obtained a federal grant that will add six positions for our Community Policing program.

Our officers persist in fighting the war on crystal methamphetamine and other illegal drugs by using enforcement and preventive measures. At the same time, school resource officers work with schools to provide positive role models and teach curriculum designed for school children—including anti-drug classes.

One of my goals has been to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) so you will be confident that our department meet the professional standards you deserve. During this past fiscal year, we completed the self-assessment phase of that process. I will be able to report next year that we met the 421 standards required to become a part of the elite group of law enforcement agencies accredited by CALEA.

We look forward to working with our neighbors to make the island of Hawaiʻi a safe place to live, visit and work. On behalf of the men and women of the Police Department, I thank you for your continued support.

It has been an honor to serve the people of Hawaiʻi as Police Commissioners. We are committed to our civilian oversight duties and helping the Police Department fulfill its mission and vision statements and maintaining its core values.

In Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission held 11 monthly meetings on a rotating schedule in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea. Our commissioners had the privilege throughout the year to attend community events and functions including monthly commanders meetings, community district meetings, recruit graduation, and Police Week ceremonies.

We also had the privilege of attending the Annual State of Hawaiʻi Police Commissioners’ Conference hosted by the Maui Police Commission. The theme was “Civilian Oversight – A Local and National Perspective.” This training conference helped commissioners gain knowledge and comparative analysis on how civilian oversight is practiced in Hawaiʻi and nationwide.

As Police Commissioners, we are committed to our civilian oversight duties and to helping the Police Department fulfill its mission and vision statements and maintaining its core values. It has been an honor to serve the people of Hawaiʻi County as Police Commissioners.

Sincerely,

Leroy J. Victorine
Chair
Hawaiʻi County Police Commission

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Hawaiʻi County Police Commission

Nine Big Island residents proudly serve on the Hawaiʻi County Police Commission. The mayor appoints one member from each district and each appointment is subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi County Council.

The commission’s most important responsibilities, as delineated in the Hawaiʻi County Charter, are to appoint and remove the police chief at its sole discretion, confirm the chief’s appointment of a deputy chief, and consider public complaints against the department or any of its members and then submit findings to the chief.

According to the County Charter, the commission’s other functions are to:

Adopt rules it may consider necessary for the conduct of its business and regulation of the matters committed to its charge, and review the rules and regulations of the department

Review the department’s annual budget prepared by the police chief and make recommendations thereon to the managing director and mayor

Submit an annual report to the mayor and the County Council

Advise the police chief on police-community relations

Hire personnel necessary to carry out its functions

Evaluate at least annually the performance of the police chief and submit a report to the mayor, managing director and County Council

During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the Police Commission members were:

Council District 1 —Carol R. Ignacio

Council District 2—Leroy J. Victorine

Council District 3 —Donn S. Mende

Council District 4 —Michelle Kualii

Council District 5 —Kaʻili Peʻa-Ferrari

Council District 6 —Jessanie Marques

Council District 7 —Kenneth T. Ono

Council District 8 — Paul W. Horner

Council District 9 —Michael B. Sumja/ Guy Schutte

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Special Response Team (SRT)

Lieutenant Thomas Shopay, Special Response Team commander, pops his head out of the hatch of one of the SRT’s specialized vehicles.

The mission of the Special Response Team is to support the Hawaiʻi Police Department and any other requesting law enforcement agency with a response to critical incidents, such as hostage situations, barricade situations, sniper situations, high-risk warrant service and special assignments. The team also provides security for visiting dignitaries.

The Special Response Team consists of specially selected officers who train extensively throughout the year ensuring operational readiness. The SRT includes a crisis negotiation team that receives special training to develop communication skills that are necessary for defusing volatile situations.

The SRT’s incident commander, tactical team, crisis negotiation team, and support personnel conduct monthly scenario training at different locations throughout the Big Island.

From July 2011 through June 2012, the Special Response Team responded to four barricaded situations, served one high-risk warrant, and participated in 13 special assignments. Those included 10 security details, two outer agency assists, and one explosives incident.

The Special Response Team is also tasked with managing the department’s electronic control device program and participating in community outreach programs.

From its inception to 2011, the SRT responded to 114 incidents.

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Community Policing

The people of Hawaiʻi County continue to embrace the Community Policing philosophy. Its strategy is to prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, arrest those who commit crimes and provide a safe environment through the use of a proactive problem-solving approach and established partnerships.

At the end of Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the Community Policing Unit had 38 authorized positions islandwide, including a supervising sergeant in Area II and a lieutenant in Area I. Of those, 27 positions were allocated for community police officers, six for school resource officers, two for HI-PAL officers and one for a civilian.

During the fiscal year, the department’s Community Policing officers, School Resource officers and HI-PAL staff continued to pursue partnerships with community groups in a collaborative effort to address substance abuse, homelessness, mental health issues, crime, homeland security, lack of youth activities and numerous other issues.

Community Policing officers regularly attend Neighborhood Watch and community association meetings to provide crime prevention presentations, assist with neighbor conflict resolution, assist in the planning of community events, and actively partner with other agencies to assist community members beyond law enforcement.

Area I and Area II Community Policing Units have effectively used the bike patrol presence to address street-level crime, including reoccurring problems, public complaints, special events and property crimes.

Officers on Bicycle Patrol in both Area I and Area II address liquor enforcement, drug enforcement, traffic enforcement, parking problems, public nuisances, pedestrian safety and safety of our visitors — especially on days when cruise ships arrive. Bicycles give the officers the advantage of speed, stealth and the ability to conduct surveillance. Bicycle Patrol reinforces the department’s Vision Statement of providing a safe place to live, visit and conduct business.

Our School Resource Officers are stationed at six intermediate schools throughout the island and also reach out to students at many feeder schools. The school is considered a community within a community, and with law enforcement present, it becomes a more complete community. The school resource officers wear three hats: law enforcement officer, teacher and counselor. They investigate crimes on campus, teach classes to students, provide presentations when requested and act as liaisons between the school and the Police Department. These officers continue to provide DARE classes, law-related training, assist with school and after school activities, counsel

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and mentor students daily and participate in school intramural activities.

Bicycle Patrol in Pāhoa, Downtown Hilo, Keaukaha, Pana‘ewa, Kailua Village and at special events

Kurtistown Family Fun Day

Mountain View Family Fun Day

Keaʻau Family Fun Day

Halloween Safety presentations for parents and children islandwide

Aloha Patrol on Alii Drive

Beach Sweeps on Alii Drive at county beach parks

Business Watch for Kailua-Kona

-Abandon vehicle beautification

Meth conferences

Community Meetings

Station tours

Illegal hunting education project

Laupahoehoe Music Festival

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During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, Community Policing officers worked in partnership with the following groups, resulting in the following outcomes:

Troy Barboza Torch Run
Special Olympics Track and Field Event. Competition for disabled athletes with teams participating from all over the island.

16 Department of Education elementary and intermediate schoolsDARE classes provided by SROs to about 2,500 students in grades 5-8.

Kokua Pāhoa, Puna Action Team, Neighborhood Place of Puna, QLCC, Prosecutor’s OfficeContinued participation, started by the Weed and Seed project, by stepping up police enforcement and joining with various neighborhood groups in activities such as Springtime Jam, bike patrol and a wrestling clinic/drug presentation for 100+ kids.

Office of Professional Standards/Criminal Intelligence Unit

The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) report directly to the police chief.

Office of Professional Standards (OPS)

Office of Professional Standards Mission Statement

The mission of The Office of Professional Standards is to protect and serve the public, the employee and the department through fair, thorough, and proactive investigations of alleged misconduct, while preserving the spirit of aloha.

The primary responsibility of the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) formerly known as the Internal Affairs Unit (IA) is to ensure the integrity of the Hawaiʻi Police Department by performing fair and thorough investigations of alleged misconduct by its employees. The Office of Professional Standards conducts investigations of complaints brought directly to the attention of the department or through the Hawaiʻi Police Commission.

The Office of Professional Standards conducts Quality Control and Compliance Inspections of department areas, property, vehicles, personnel, and issued equipment. The unit also assists administration personnel in conducting the department’s drug testing program.

The Office of Professional Standards includes two selected detectives assigned to Police Headquarters. The unit is commanded by a captain who reports to the Office of the Chief.

During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the Office of Professional Standards conducted 22 administrative investigations, 53 internal inquiries into actions by police department personnel and provided 37 in-service training sessions to employees. The Office of Professional Standards also conducted 39 quality control and compliance inspections of various elements of the department to prevent the abuse, misuse, fraud and waste of department resources.
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Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU)

The mission of the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) is to collect, evaluate, analyze, and disseminate intelligence data regarding criminal and terrorist activity to aid the Hawaiʻi Police Department in a proactive approach of enforcing laws, preserving peace, and providing a safe environment.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit consists of two detectives and four officers assigned to Police Headquarters, equally divided among the Hilo and Kona stations. The unit is commanded by a captain who reports directly to the Office of the Chief.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit gathers information from all sources in a manner consistent with the law in support of efforts to provide intelligence on the existence, identities and capabilities of criminal suspects and enterprises. The unit also conducts background investigations on applicants seeking employment with the Hawaiʻi Police Department and criminal history checks for other county, state and federal agencies.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is part of the Inter-Island Criminal Intelligence Unit, which includes the intelligence units of the Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, and Kauai Police Department.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is a member of the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit (LEIU) which is composed of law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada and Australia.

The Criminal Intelligence Unit is also part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, whose mission is to partner with the FBI in order to maximize cooperation and to create a cohesive unit capable of addressing the most complex terrorism investigations.

Additionally, the Criminal Intelligence Unit is part of the U.S. Marshals Service Hawaiʻi Fugitive Task Force, whose mission it is to investigate and arrest —as part of a joint law enforcement operation — persons who have active state and federal felony arrest warrants.

Administrative Bureau

The Administrative Bureau is divided into two divisions: Administrative Services and Technical Services. A police major heads each one.

Administrative Services Division

Commander: Maj. Samuel Thomas

The administrative Services Division includes the Finance Section, the Accreditation Section, the Public Relations Section, the Human Resources Section, the Training Section, and the Special Response Team.

The Finance Section is responsible for payroll, accounts payable, officers’ gas and oil accounts, special duty work, inventory, and other finance-related tasks.

The Accreditation Section is responsible for leading the department toward achieving CALEA accreditation. During Fiscal Year 2011–2012, the department completed the self-assessment phase of the accreditation process and prepared for the next phase, the on-site assessment. During the On-Site Assessment, a team of out-of-state certified CALEA Assessors would arrive on the island to examine the department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

The Word Processing Center is responsible for transcribing all narrative police reports that sworn personnel dictate into an internet/web-based Dictation Enterprise Platform system. The system was implemented in September 2010, replacing an aged and outdated on-site digital recording system. Throughout the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year, the Word Processing Center worked long hours in an attempt to keep up with the high workload. The dictated reports transcribed by the Word Processing Center are routed via the Records Management System for officers’ approval and timely prosecution. The reports become the official documents that detail the department’s criminal investigations. The Word Processing Center consists of one clerical services supervisor, one assistant clerical supervisor and 14 clerks. More than 31,300 reports were transcribed totaling more than 308,000 minutes of dictation.

The Public Relations Section is responsible for maintaining the department’s website and Nixle alerts, responding to inquiries from the news media, managing the Police Department’s Community Satisfaction Survey, producing the cable access television program “Hawaʻii Island’s Most Wanted,” and publishing the department’s annual report and employee newsletter. During Fiscal Year 2011–2012 the Public Relations Department oversaw a redesign and upgrade to the Police Department’s website, making it more user friendly and ADA accessible.

The Special Response Team (SRT) is mobilized for high-risk, tactical operations involving barricaded suspects, hostage situations, and high-risk warrant services. The team also provides security for visiting dignitaries and politicians. (See more about SRT on page 6.)

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In Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, the Human Resources Section—in cooperation with the Hawaiʻi County Department of Human Resources — conducted an open recruitment for police officer recruits. The campaign involved media advertisements, participation by police officers and Department of Human Resources staff at career fairs, and recruitment talks at various island schools. The Police Department planned to fill all vacant, sworn positions on September 17, 2012.

The Training Section continued to conduct training for the 79th Police Recruit Class which consisted of 23 police officers during Fiscal Year 2011 –2012. Those officers received a wide variety of field training while riding along with, and being evaluated by, a field training officer. This training included the practical applications of criminal investigations, principles of police patrol, interview and interrogation, constitutional and citizens’ rights, federal, state and county statutes, and other topics pertinent to law enforcement. Along with the recruit class training, the Training Section also conducted more than 60 hours of a use-of-force recall training consisting of a refresher on arrest control techniques, pepper spray instruction, ASP tactical baton and wooden baton techniques.

Also during this year, the Police Department provided more than 4,494 hours of instruction and training to its sworn police officers and civilian employees. Those training sessions covered a wide variety of topics selected to meet the department’s three primary training initiatives:

To improve the overall quality of services the department provides to the Big Island community, personnel received training on several topics, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, cultural awareness, domestic violence awareness and the faith-based community, service animals and mobility devices, and people with disabilities. The department also conducted training pertaining to Community Policing philosophies and strategies.

In keeping abreast of the latest investigative techniques and law enforcement trends, personnel from the Criminal Investigations Sections, Juvenile Aid Sections and Vice Sections attended a wide variety of training courses provided by nationally recognized presenters. They included drug investigation and deportation proceedings, gambling machines and devices, courtroom testimony and presentation, domestic violence and sexual assault training, and at-scene traffic crash/traffic homicide investigations.The department also sent two officers to become certified polygraph examiners through the Marston Polygraph Academy.

For providing employee development training opportunities to both sworn and civilian employees during this fiscal year, training covered such topics as prevention of workplace violence, discipline, workplace safety, customer service, investigating workers’ compensation and accident claims, basic skills for the new supervisor, and ethics.

During the 2011 – 2012 Fiscal Year, the Communications Dispatch Center received 122,753 9-1-1 calls with 21 percent of those being transferred to the Fire Department. (It should be noted that for February and March 2012, call counts were conducted manually by Hawaiian Telcom due to the Solacom conversion.) All requests for police service are recorded, logged, assigned by Dispatch personnel using a computer-aided dispatch system. Mondays (with 30,317 calls for service) and Fridays (with 31,401 calls for service) were shown to be the busiest days. A total of 203,168 events were documented during this fiscal year.

The Communications Dispatch Center conducted the 15th Police Radio Dispatch Class of six new recruits to replace vacant staff positions. Four of the six recruits would ultimately complete their on-the-job training during the 2012 –2013 fiscal year.

The Communications Dispatch Center received and processed 466 requests for 9-1-1 recordings from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, police personnel and the public, a 4.07 percent increase over the previous year.

The Communications Dispatch Center continues to work with wireless service providers to enhance the Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 system deployed in April 2007. During Fiscal Year 2011–2012, 28 new towers and 115 new sectors were deployed with the assistance of the Police Department. An audit of 321 cell sites and 1,480 sectors was conducted during this fiscal year. Dispatch continues to edit and add new layers to the Positron mapping system that assists 9-1-1 operators in locating callers.

The Police Department continues to update the master street address guide. During the fiscal year, 4,141 transactions were completed. These transactions included change of addresses, insertions and deletions of street records, and customer change reports.

The Police Department, along with the Fire Department, contracted with Hawaiian Telcom, Inc., the current E9-1-1 service provider in the State of Hawaiʻi and local exchange carrier, to migrate from the current 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone Service system to a Next Generation Emergency Services IP Network enabled system for 9-1-1 service. This platform was provided by Solacom Technologies and the system was deployed into both Police Department and Fire Department dispatch centers in February 2012. The Police Department continues to work with Hawaiian Telcom and Solacom to address ongoing post-deployment issues.

The Communications Maintenance Section is responsible for planning, installing and maintaining the radio communication system for the County of Hawaiʻi, inspecting and repairing all base and mobile radio equipment, and installing and maintaining other electronic equipment, including sirens and emergency blue lights.

The Computer Center is responsible for interconnectivity between all stations and sub-stations, assuring a secured networking infrastructure, installing and maintaining computer equipment, installing and troubleshooting software systems and providing technical assistance for varying computing issues. During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the Computer Center continued with the fiber optic network project, provisioning Kaʻū, Captain Cook and Kona stations with

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increased connectivity. The only remaining station to be provisioned is North Kohala. Mauna Lani, Hale Halewai and Kona Airport are the remaining sub-stations still on DSL connections.

Other projects completed were:

Record Management System upgrade from version 11 to 12.

Upgrade of computer equipment in the Communications Dispatch Center.

Acquisition and deployment of 100 Mobile Data Terminal laptops.

During the 2011–2012 Fiscal Year, the Hawaiʻi Police Department received $525,455.74 in federal grant funds—which the Traffic Services Section oversees—for traffic enforcement and equipment purchases to improve traffic safety. Police continued efforts to make Big Island roadways safer by using the grant funds to pay for overtime for checkpoints and other enforcement projects aimed at reducing injuries and death in motor vehicle crashes by increasing seat belt use rates, apprehending impaired drivers, enforcing distracted driver violations, and enforcing speed regulations and illegal “outlaw” road racing.

Other Traffic Services Section highlights include:

85 road closure permits issued

207 violation letters sent out to motorists

57 school crossing guard checks conducted

82 impound letters sent out to owners of abandoned vehicles

The Records and Identification Section is responsible for police records, evidence, fingerprint examinations, processing subpoenas and court documents, compiling and disseminating statistical information and processing firearm permit applications and registrations — including thorough background checks on each individual applying for a long gun or hand gun permit.

Over the past several fiscal years, the Records and Identification Section has noticed a steady increase in the number of firearm permit applications and registrations. In Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, staff processed 3,076 firearms permit applications and 7,556 registrations. That represented an 88.7 percent increase for firearms permit applications and a 72.7 percent increase for registrations compared with four years ago, when the section processed 1,630 firearm permit applications and 4,374 registrations.

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Operations Bureaus

Area I — East Hawaiʻi

Commanders: Assist. Chief Henry Tavares / Maj. Randy Apele

The Area I Operations Bureau includes investigative and patrol operations in East Hawaiʻi. Its districts include Hāmākua, North Hilo, South Hilo and Puna—an area encompassing 1,685 square miles.

A captain heads each of the four patrol districts.

Area II—West Hawaiʻi

Commanders: Asst. Chief Paul Kealoha/Maj. James O’Connor

The Area II Operations Bureau includes investigative and patrol operations in West Hawaiʻi. The 2,345 square-mile area includes the districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, Kona and Kaʻū, each headed by a captain.

Map showing the approximate locations of the police districts in East and West Hawai'i

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Criminal Investigations Divisions

Commanders: Area I—Capt. Randall Medeiros/Area II—Capt. Chad Basque

The Police Department’s investigative operations fall under the Criminal Investigations Divisions—one in Area I and one in Area II.

CID commanders oversee the operations of the Criminal Investigations Section, Juvenile Aid Section and Vice Section with operations in both Area I and Area II.

Area I also includes the Crime Lab in Hilo.

Criminal Investigations Sections (CIS)

Commanders: Area I—Lt. Gregory Esteban / Area II—Lt. Gerald Wike

The Criminal Investigations Sections (CIS) investigate all major crimes, such as murders, felony assaults, major property crimes, and financial crimes. In addition, CIS detectives respond to all reported suicides, child deaths and other deaths with questionable circumstances.

During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, Area I CIS investigated 1,855 crimes. Of those, 683 were burglaries, 389 were thefts, and 231 were financial crimes. In comparison with the previous fiscal year, this represents an 18.9 percent increase in the number of burglaries investigated, a 28.3 percent increase in thefts and a 32 percent increase in financial crimes. The overall solution rate was 89.5 percent. Area I detectives investigated two murder cases and nine attempted murder cases. At the end of the fiscal year, one murder case and one attempted murder case were pending.

During the same period, Area II CIS investigated 805 crimes. Of those, 274 were burglaries, 218 were thefts and 82 were financial crimes. In comparison with the previous fiscal year, this represents a 26 percent increase in thefts, with burglaries and financial crimes remaining the same. The overall clearance rate was 71 percent.

Area II detectives investigated two attempted murder cases, both of which were solved by the end of the fiscal year.

Among the many cases investigated by the Criminal Investigations Sections, the following were particularly noteworthy:

On September 12, 2011, Area I CIS detectives investigated a report that two inmates at Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center had been approached by a 68-yearold man who was in custody awaiting trial for attempted murder, robbery and assault. The suspect had allegedly solicited the two inmates on two separate occasions to finish the job” and kill the 65-year-old victim of the attempted murder that occurred on June 13, 2011, in Hilo. On December 23, 2011, following a Grand Jury indictment, the suspect was arrested and charged with additional offenses: two counts of first-degree attempted murder and two counts of first-degree criminal solicitation to murder. At the close of the fiscal year, he remained in jail awaiting trial on all charges.

On October 22, 2011, officers responded to the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision to investigate a report of a woman screaming for help. Upon arrival, police discovered a 69year-old woman with severe head injuries and determined that a man had forced his way into her home before assaulting her with a sharp instrument. Police also recovered what they believe to be the weapon used in the attack. The suspect fled the scene upon officers’ arrival. An extensive search was conducted, during which an 18-year-old Keaʻau man was found hiding in a nearby house. He was arrested and taken into custody. Area I CIS detectives continued the investigation and charged him with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree assault.

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On December 9, 2011, detectives investigated a manslaughter involving the death of a 10-month-old girl who was found by her parents unresponsive in the bathtub on November 26, 2011. She had been left in the tub with her 3-year-old brother. The infant was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The cause of death was later determined to be asphyxia due to drowning. On July 30, 2012, following a Grand Jury indictment, the infant’s 22year-old mother and 27-year-old father were arrested and charged with manslaughter and reckless endangering.

On February 14, 2012, a 27-year-old man reportedly set fire to the front porch of his ex-girlfriend’s house. He then doused her and himself with a flammable liquid and attempted to set them both on fire. After the woman’s relatives pulled the man away from her, he set himself on fire. The woman’s relatives then doused the man with water, extinguishing the flames. The man fled the area and later called 9-1-1. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was later arrested after being treated for his injuries. On February 16, 2012, the suspect was charged with attempted second-degree murder and six other offenses, including kidnapping and first-degree arson.

On July 8, 2012, a 61-year-old man reportedly shot a 66-year-old man in the upper thigh during an argument at the suspect’s home. The suspect and victim had been longtime acquaintances. The victim struggled with the suspect and took away the firearm. The suspect then grabbed a bat and used it to assault the victim. The victim fled the area, drove himself home and called 9-1-1. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. During the investigation, police recovered a .22 caliber revolver and a baseball bat believed to be the weapons used by the suspect. On July 10, 2012, detectives charged the 61-year-old man with second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and eight firearms offenses.

Juvenile Aid Sections (JAS)

Commanders: Area I—Lt. Lucille Melemai /Area II—Lt. Gilbert Gaspar

The Juvenile Aid Section (JAS) is primarily responsible for the investigation of sexual assaults of adults and minors, domestic violence and other family-related crimes, and internet crimes involving child exploitation.

JAS is divided into three specialized units: the Sex Crimes Unit (specializing in sexual assault investigations), the Domestic Violence Unit (specializing in domestic abuse cases) and the General Detail Unit, which covers all other crimes

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related to juveniles. The Area I Juvenile Aid Section also has two detectives who have been trained to recover digital evidence from computers, mobile devices, cell phones and other electronic storage media.

Two officers in Juvenile Aid are also trained as canine handlers.

In September 2011, Area II JAS received a tracking dog donated by the Missing Child Center of Hawaiʻi. The canine “Magnum” is a black Labrador retriever and has been trained in scent discrimination to assist his handler in locating missing persons.

A yellow Labrador retriever remains on duty in Area I. Canines for Kids donated “Katie” to the Police Department in 2006 and the Missing Children Center of Hawaiʻi and the Children’s Justice Centers of Hawaiʻi provided additional funding.

Katie’s primary duties are to assist in locating missing children and Alzheimer’s patients, although she may be called upon to trail criminal suspects.

During the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year, the Area I Juvenile Aid Section investigated 698 cases — of which 354 were Domestic Violence related.

During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, Area II JAS investigated 506 cases and 245 miscellaneous public incidents that include sexual assaults, domestic violence and other crimes against women, child pornography and other juvenile-related crimes.

Among the many cases the Juvenile Aid Section investigated this fiscal year, the following were particularly noteworthy:

In August 2011, Area I Juvenile Aid Section detectives arrested a 22-year-old Puna man in connection with the 2010 sexual assault of a female hitchhiker. He was charged with kidnapping, second-degree theft and two counts of first-degree sexual assault. The charges stemmed from a report police received on August 4, 2010, from an adult female who said that between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. she was hitchhiking on Highway 11 in the area of the Panaewa Zoo. A young man unknown to her stopped and offered her a ride. She reported that he drove her into the Hawaiian Acres subdivision, where he sexually assaulted her.

In January 2012, Area II Juvenile Aid Section detectives investigated a case that initially began as an abuse of a family or household member investigation. The victim was a 3-year-old girl, who was taken from her home in Waimea to the Waimea Fire Department after her guardians reportedly found her partially submerged in a bathtub. The victim had restricted breathing and was taken by ambulance to North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for further treatment. Doctors at the hospital observed the child to have bruises and a laceration on her hip. A CAT scan revealed subdural hemorrhage and multiple injuries of various stages of healing throughout her body that were consistent with abuse. Because of the seriousness of the victim’s injuries, she was transferred to Kapiʻolani Medical Center on Oahu that same evening. Two days later, the victim succumbed to her injuries and the abuse case was reclassified to manslaughter. The victim’s mother’s cousin, a 37-year-old man, was subsequently arrested and charged with manslaughter. During court proceedings, the suspect pled guilty and was still in custody awaiting sentencing at the end of the fiscal year.

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Vice Sections

Commanders: Area I—Lt. Burt Shimabukuro/Area II—Lt. Sherry Bird

The Area II Vice Section — consisting of the Ice Task Force, DEA deputized Airport Task Force, and General Detail — is primarily responsible for preventing and suppressing all forms of drug-related and gambling activities, including prostitution, cruelty to animals, and the importation and distribution of illegal narcotics. The Vice Section has three narcotic canine teams, with one team assigned full time to the Airport Task Force.

The Airport Task Force focuses its investigative efforts on the importation and exportation of illegal narcotics and/or proceeds from narcotics distribution by focusing on parcel interdiction at the various mailing services, the two main ports of entry, and by conducting passenger screenings at the various airports. The General Detail focuses its efforts on investigations involving cruelty to animals, gambling, prostitution and the commercial promotion of marijuana. The Ice Task Force focuses its efforts on the importation and distribution of crystal methamphetamine, as well as cocaine, heroin, designer drugs and diverted prescription pills.

Crystal Methamphetamine (also known as “ice”) continues to be the greatest drug threat to the community, as “ice” is continually being imported into the island from Honolulu and the West Coast by way of body carriers and parcel services.

The abuse of pharmaceutical prescription drugs (known as “pharmaceutical diversion”) continues to remain an alarming drug threat in the United States, including in Hawaiʻi County. It has been reported that pharmaceutical drugs, legally prescribed or diverted, were present in approximately 90 percent of the search warrants executed for illegal narcotics. The most commonly recovered pharmaceutical drugs during these investigations were Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Methadone, and illegal steroids.

In November 2008, Hawaiʻi County voters passed a bill for an ordinance making the adult personal use of marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority of the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The bill prohibits the Hawaiʻi County Council from accepting any federal funding for marijuana eradication. During the fourth year of this bill, the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Area II Vice Section recovered 32,768 marijuana plants despite the absence of eradication missions. The Hawaiʻi Police Department continues to research and develop new ways to solve the problem of commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana in the County of Hawaiʻi. Abuse of medical marijuana laws, which were enacted in Hawaiʻi in 2000, also is common.

Vice officers belong to the statewide Hawaiʻi Narcotics Task Force and are involved in joint operations with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Vice Sections are also a part of the Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. They continue to strive to identify, infiltrate, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Hawaiʻi County from the street to the highest level.

In 2011 –2012, the Vice Sections initiated 2,131 drug-related investigations and arrested 492 individuals for 1,751 charges. In their

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continued efforts to disrupt the use, distribution and importation of illegal narcotics into Hawaiʻi County, the Vice Section also initiated 110 forfeiture investigations in which items valued at approximately $190,000 were seized during Fiscal Year 2011–2012.

Among the many cases investigated, the following were particularly noteworthy:

In July 2011, Area I Vice officers arrested a suspected crystal methamphetamine trafficker in Hāmākua after serving a search warrant on his vehicle. The search led to the recovery of a half-ounce of ice, nearly an ounce of cocaine, a gram of heroin and 40 steroid tablets.

In July 2011, Area I Vice officers arrested a 39-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man following the execution of a search warrant on a home in the Ainaloa subdivision in Pāhoa, leading to the recovery of 115 marijuana plants being cultivated in an indoor/outdoor growing operation. Also recovered were 643.2 grams (1.4 pounds) of dried processed marijuana, 18.5 grams of hashish, indoor-growing equipment and other marijuana processing equipment.

In August 2011, Area I Vice officers arrested a 61-year-old Honokaʻa man following the execution of a marijuana search warrant at his home. This led to the recovery of 596 marijuana plants being cultivated outdoors, 285 marijuana plants being cultivated in an indoor-growing operation, 4,420.2 grams (9.7 pounds) dried processed marijuana, indoor growing equipment, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .22 caliber rifle.

In August 2011, following the execution of a marijuana search warrant in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision in Keaʻau, Area I Vice officers recovered 135 marijuana plants being cultivated in an indoor/outdoor growing operation, 5,185.09 grams (11.4 pounds) dried processed marijuana, indoor marijuana growing equipment, and two rifles. Two 24year-old men and a 25-year-old man were arrested.

In October 2011, Area II Vice officers along with officers from the Special Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at a home located in Honaunau after Vice officers observed marijuana plants at the residence during aerial surveillance. Upon execution of the search warrant, officers recovered 361 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to three-feet tall, approximately 2,111 grams of dried and processed marijuana, approximately 362 grams of hashish and numerous items associated with the cultivation of marijuana. Two men were arrested and later released pending additional investigation. The cases initiated as a result of this incident consisted of first-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana, first-degree promotion of a harmful drug, second-degree promotion of detrimental drugs, third-degree promotion of detrimental drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, all of which were deferred to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

In November 2011, Area II Vice officers along with officers from the Special Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at a warehouse in Kailua-Kona. Among the several legitimate business establishments being operated from the warehouse was an upstairs portion that had been converted into living quarters and occupied by a 48-year-old man who was employed as the building’s maintenance employee. Upon execution of a search warrant, officers recovered approximately 7.7 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, the bulk of which was packaged in five vacuum-sealed packages and located in two safes that were hidden from plain view. Officers also recovered several resealable packets containing smaller amounts of packaged methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana and paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine distribution. In addition, $3,161 in cash, two flat screen televisions, a digital video surveillance system, three computers, an iPad 2, numerous collectible comic books, numerous collectible baseball cards, an air compressor and a BMW vehicle were seized for forfeiture. The suspect was arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, four counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, and one count of third-degree promotion of detrimental drugs. These cases were later adopted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. At the close of the fiscal year, the suspect was in federal custody awaiting trial.

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In November 2011 to January 2012, Area I Vice officers conducted an operation in Hilo involving a 46-year-old woman selling prescription medication. Using law enforcement officers in an undercover capacity, controlled purchases of Hydrocodone (360 tablets) and Viagra (four tablets) were made over this three-month period, and the 46-year-old woman was arrested.

In January 2012, an Area I Vice officer assisted the U.S. Postal Service with a controlled delivery in Hilo of a parcel containing 145.1 grams (5.1 ounces)of crystal methamphetamine. A 34-year-old man, a 35year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested for methamphetamine trafficking.

In January 2012, during a statewide parcel interdiction operation, U. S. Postal Service inspectors intercepted an inbound envelope containing approximately 90 grams of brown tar heroin. The envelope was bound .sion. The Airport Task Force continued the investigation after it was determined that the quantity did not meet the federal threshold. During a subsequent controlled delivery operation, the Airport Task Force identified a 65-year-old woman as the intended recipient. She was arrested and charged with first-degree promotion of dangerous drugs.

In February 2012, during a statewide parcel interdiction operation, United States Postal Service inspectors intercepted an inbound parcel containing approximately 60 grams of ice. The parcel was bound for an address in Waikoloa and addressed to a 50-year-old man who lived there. After a subsequent controlled delivery operation, officers recovered a loaded .38 caliber pistol and assorted ammunition, as well as items associated with ice distribution. The man was arrested for methamphetamine trafficking and firearms offenses and turned over to the custody of postal inspectors for federal detention and prosecution.

In March 2012, Area II Vice officers, with assistance from the Criminal Intelligence Unit, concluded an approximately six-month-long investigation of a suspected illegal gambling room located in the Old Industrial Area in Kailua-Kona. Officers identified the business owner as a 44-year-old man and the sole employee as a 54-year-old man. After executing a search warrant on the business establishment, officers located the owner, the employee and 10 adult patrons who were actively playing on illegal video gambling machines. Officers recovered 17 illegal video gambling machines, gambling records and $18,207 in cash. Twelve adults were arrested for gambling offenses and later released pending additional follow-up investigations. The investigations were later deferred to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

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In March 2012, working in an undercover capacity, Area I Vice officers conducteda gambling operation investigation involving an amusement video gaming business establishment in Hilo. A 44-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested for promotion of gambling. Officers recovered computer gaming devices and $3,265 in cash for forfeiture.

In May 2012, Area I Vice officers executed a narcotics search warrant at a home in the Orchidland subdivision in Keaʻau. This led to the recovery of 4,57.3 grams (1 pound) of black tar heroin, related drug paraphernalia, two firearms and an electric stun gun. A 58-year-old woman and a 52-year-old woman were arrested and police recovered $5,210 in cash for forfeiture.

Crime Lab

Supervisor: Criminalist III Kathy Pung

The Crime Lab consists of a supervising criminalist III, two criminalists II, and two evidence specialists who were converted from grant-funded to permanent civil service positions in January 2012.

The evidence specialists assisted in 140 call-out incidents that included crime scenes, traffic fatalities, autopsies and specialized evidence processing. In addition to the call-outs, the evidence specialists conducted in-service training for Police Department personnel, completed 211 examinations of evidence for latent fingerprints and performed 37 examinations for the presence of biological evidence.

Area I Patrol Districts

Hāmākua District

During the 2011 – 2012 Fiscal Year, the district saw a change of command in January with the transfer of Captain Mitchell Kanehailua from the Hāmākua/North Hilo Districts to the Criminal Investigations Division in Hilo. Captain Kanehailua’s position was filled by Captain Richard Miyamoto, who transferred from the North Kohala District.

The Hāmākua District has a population of more than 6,100 residents.

Hāmākua police ended the 2011 – 2012 fiscal year with an increase in burglaries, having 23 reported cases compared with 18 from the previous fiscal year. Eight of the burglaries were cleared for a clearance rate of about 35 percent. Seventy-seven thefts were reported compared with 86 from the previous year, a decrease of about 9.5 percent. Of the 77 reported theft cases, 24 were cleared for a 32 percent clearance rate.

Traffic enforcement was a focal point in the Hāmākua District and, although traffic enforcement efforts were higher from the previous fiscal year, major traffic collisions also increased with 64 major accidents reported this year compared with 41 in 2010 –2011. Despite the increase in crashes, no traffic fatalities were recorded for the year.

Some of the major community events that the district community policing officer was involved in included the annual Western Week parade and block party, Honokaʻa Peace Day Fair, American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Honoka‘a High School Homecoming Celebration.

The Hāmākua District at Kaʻala Gulch and the South Hilo District at Hakalau Gulch form the boundaries of the North Hilo District. Its police station is located at 36-2285 Puʻualaea Homestead Road in Laupāhoehoe just west of the 25-mile marker off Old Māmalahoa Highway.

North Hilo District

In Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, the North Hilo District had a decrease in reported burglaries, responding to six burglary reports compared with eight the year before. Of the six burglary investigations, three were cleared.

Theft cases also showed a decrease from 65 to 29 cases. Officers were able to clear seven of the theft cases.

The district logged 35 major traffic accidents, five fewer than the previous year. Along with the decrease in major traffic accidents, the North Hilo district did not record any traffic fatalities.

During the year, construction work in the Maulua, Laupahoehoe and Ka‘awali‘i gulches continued with efforts to try to solve

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the problem of falling rocks and landslides. This activity did cause travel time delays and some inconvenience for motorists.

One of the major community events that the district Community Policing officer was involved in was the Laupahoehoe Point Memorial event, which brings the entire community together for a poignant reminder of the devastation caused by the 1946 tsunami. Students from Laupahoehoe School contributed to the park with beautification projects after the ceremony. The Laupahoehoe Point Music Festival saw another great turnout with more than 1,500 people enjoying a day of music and family fun.

The North Hilo District at Kaʻala Gulch and the South Kohala District at Lakeland form the boundaries of the Hāmākua District. Its police station is located at 45-3400 Māmane Street in Honokaʻa Town.

South Hilo Patrol

South Hilo Patrol, the Police Department’s largest staffed patrol division, is situated on the ground floor of Building B at the Public Safety Complex, 349 Kapiolani Street. Patrol officers also operate out of the Moʻoheau Bus Terminal mini-station.

South Hilo Patrol provides 24-hour police services for the district of South Hilo and operates the East Hawaiʻi Detention Center, which houses pretrial detainees for the four police districts that comprise Area I Operations.

Other services provided by the South Hilo Patrol Division include Community Policing, school resource officers and the reserve police officer program.

Officers responded to 441 major traffic accidents in South Hilo this fiscal year compared with 409 the previous fiscal year, an increase of 5 percent. In the area of traffic enforcement, police made 415 DUI arrests and issued 1,663 speeding citations, 934 seatbelt citations. Overall, officers issued 13,356 traffic citations.

South Hilo communities experienced an increase in robberies, burglaries and thefts. Twenty-eight robberies were reported this fiscal year compared with 20 reported last year, an increase of 40 percent. Burglaries totaled 367 compared with 266 last year, an increase of 41 percent. Thefts also rose from 1,880 last fiscal year to 2,195 this year, for an increase of 16 percent. The clearance rate of thefts increased also, however, from 47 percent to 51 percent. The majority of the thefts were related to shoplifting.

Reported sexual assault cases decreased from 87 the previous fiscal year to 81 this fiscal year. Likewise, assaults decreased 11 percent from 483 to 434. Police investigated four attempted murder cases in South Hilo this fiscal year compared with one last fiscal year.

South Hilo Patrol officers are committed to upholding the department’s core values, mission and vision statements. Their dedication and commitment are exhibited in their daily

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and seemingly routine investigations. The protection of life is priority No. 1, as demonstrated in the following incident:

On May 13, 2012, officers responded to a disturbance involving gunshots in a residential area in Hilo. Upon officers’ arrival, the suspected gunman was immediately identified and arrested. This allowed officers to continue a search of the house, where they discovered a 55-year-old woman lying motionless on the kitchen floor in an approximate 5-foot by 5foot pool of blood.

An officer quickly acted, first by applying direct pressure to immediately stop the heavy bleeding of the victim’s right thigh and directing another officer to assist in applying direct pressure to stop the bleeding from the victim’s left knee by using an apron that was hanging on the wall. After applying direct pressure, a tourniquet was applied to both legs to further stop the bleeding.

The officer checked for vital signs and noted that the victim’s skin was pale and cold to the touch. He noted that the victim was going in and out of consciousness and that her conversation was muddled and intermittent.

He also observed the victim’s eyes roll back several times. For 22 minutes, the officer continued to provide reassuring conversation to the victim, who believed she was going to die.

The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her left shoulder, right hand, left knee and right thigh and was taken to a medical facility on Oahu.

In official police reports and eye witness accounts, the officer’s immediate and calculated actions of stabilizing the gunshot injuries and displaying comforting compassion toward the victim was critical in saving her life.

The South Hilo District occupies the area between the North Hilo District at Hakalau and the Puna District at Papa‘i. Its police station is located at 349 Kapiʻolani Street.

Puna District

The district of Puna is larger than the entire island of Oahu or the cities of New York and Los Angeles combined.

Forty-nine police officers, four sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain are assigned to the Puna District.

The new district station was completed in 2011 and is located just outside Pāhoa Village. The Keaʻau station is located in Keaʻau Town, off Old Volcano Road, and serves as a substation.

Community Policing officers in Puna partner with 10 Neighborhood Watch groups in crime prevention, community awareness and problem solving. The Community Policing officers worked with local businesses and farmers to establish the Keaʻau Agriculture Watch in response to agricultural thefts and illegal hunting in the Keaʻau area. Some of the largest landowners and farm groups in the area, such as W.H. Shipman, ML Macadamia Orchards, and Ohana Banana, are part of the watch.

Improving the quality of life is a police and community priority in Pāhoa Town. The Community Policing and Patrol officers conduct crime reduction details and bicycle patrols to increase police presence in town.

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As a proactive response to burglaries in lower Puna, officers began a targeted burglary interdiction program during the holiday season to address burglaries in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision during the months of December 2011 and January of 2012. Community Policing officers as well as Patrol officers conducted concentrated and directed enforcement within the subdivision. Officers also made highly visible patrols on all major roadways leading into and out of the subdivision. Burglaries in that area decreased nearly 70 percent, from 19 reported burglaries to 6, compared with the same period the previous prior.

In November 2011, a suspect was arrested in Puna for burglary. This arrest stopped one of the largest crime sprees in Hawaiʻi County for 2011 – 2012. The suspect confessed to 21 burglaries and 6 thefts and was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $163,000 in restitution for his crimes. The vast majority of these crimes occurred in the Puna district, but some occurred in the South Hilo and Kona districts as well.

Also this fiscal year, Officer Joseph Rocha was honored by his peers and supervisors as the “Puna Patrol Officer of the Year” for his work ethic, positive attitude and dedication to the community.

Overall, criminal cases initiated in the Puna District increased slightly with 6,461 cases initiated in Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, compared with 6,265 the previous year. This represents an increase of 196 cases or nearly 3 percent. For the fiscal year, burglaries increased by 11 percent (373 compared with 333 the previous year), financial crimes increased by 5 percent (166 compared with 158 the previous year) and thefts were up by 5 percent (793 compared with 754 the previous year). The Puna District’s burglary clearance rate was up 4 percent (28 percent cleared compared with 24 percent for the same period the previous fiscal year).

The Puna District is situated between the South Hilo District at Papaʻi and the Kaʻū District at Keauhou Landing. Its police station is located in Pāhoa at 15-2615 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road.

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Area II Patrol Districts

North Kohala District

During Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012, the North Kohala District experienced an increase in the number of reported burglaries (15 cases compared with 14 cases last fiscal year), assaults (30 cases compared with 22 cases last fiscal year), and thefts (87 cases compared with 65 cases last fiscal year), which were attributed and correlated to a slight increase in drug activity.

In efforts to address the increase of drug activity, North Kohala Patrol officers participated in the execution of three search warrants, which resulted in three adults being arrested for numerous drug offenses and the forfeiture of $391.

The number of traffic accidents decreased slightly (from 75 to 71), with one resulting in a fatality in which the operator of a motorcycle passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed on Route 270 (Akoni Pule Highway), lost control of the vehicle, ran off the roadway and collided with a traffic sign.

Renovations were completed at the North Kohala Police station to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. In addition, bullet-resistant glass was installed in the lobby area for additional security.

The “Kohala Grad Night Project,” in its third year, was again a huge success with almost 100 percent participation.

The North Kohala Community Policing officer participated with the community in annual events, including the Kamehameha Day Parade, Skate Day, Easter Egg Hunt and Toys for Tots. In partnership with Kohala Elementary School, the DARE curriculum was taught to 70 students.

A Police-community meeting was held at the Kohala Intergenerational Center, where members of the community voiced their concerns to the Police Chief and his command staff.

The North Kohala District is bounded by South Kohala at Kaiʻopae and Hāmākua at Honopue. Its police station is located behind the Kamehameha statue in Kapaʻau at 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway.

South Kohala District

The South Kohala District is home to approximately 14,000 residents within the district, which includes residents of Hawaiian Homelands in Waimea and unincorporated Kawaihae areas. The district is beginning to see an influx of housing projects. Among them are the Waikoloa Village Hoʻoko Housing Project, Waimea Town Hawaiian Homes project slated for approximately 450 new homes, and community

30—2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

condominiums and resident housing near the Mauna Lani Hotel.

The South Kohala District also has six major hotel resorts and three beach parks.

South Kohala Patrol consists of 23 patrol officers, three community policing officers, one police operations clerk, three sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain.

During Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, the district saw a decrease in some major crime activity. Police responded to one manslaughter incident (compared with one murder incident last fiscal year), two robbery incidents (compared with three last year) and 47 assault incidents (compared with 64 last year).

Officers also recorded a slight decrease in property crimes. Stolen vehicles were down to 15 incidents compared with 21 the previous fiscal year. Criminal property damage cases were down to 80 compared with 99 the previous fiscal year. Shoplifting incidents were down to 44 incidents compared with 72 the previous fiscal year. Car break-ins were down to 77 compared with 124 the previous fiscal year.

Financial crimes increased with 97 cases compared with 32 the previous fiscal year. Theft incidents increased to 266 compared with 244 the previous fiscal year. Burglaries increased to 40 incidents compared with 37 the previous year. This increase can somewhat be attributed to the economy and unemployment. Patrol officers cleared 26 of the 97 reported financial crime investigations, 84 of the 266 theft incidents and 13 of the 77 burglary incidents.

Officers also investigated 166 major traffic accidents and 365 minor traffic accidents. Roadway construction and improvements were done on Route 200/Saddle Road and Route 190 near the 12- to 14-mile markers. These improvements contributed to the increase of traffic activity and reported traffic incidents. Police investigated five traffic fatalities occurring in the areas of Kawaihae Road, Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Saddle Road.

The most significant events that occurred in the district were:

In the early morning of May 15, 2011, police responded to a shooting on Alaneo Street in Waimea. A man was shot in the left leg, and the suspect fled on foot. The suspect was later apprehended and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The suspect was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree assault and reckless endangering.

On October 18, 2011, in the early morning hours, police responded to a report of a 68-year-old woman who drove her vehicle through the front area of a local mini-mart. A 29-year-old employee sustained injuries from the incident. The suspect fled the scene and was later apprehended. She was charged with negligent injury and leaving the scene of an accident.

On January 13, 2012, a Waimea family took a 3-year-old toddler to the Waimea Fire Station indicating that the child had drowned in the bathtub. Investigation revealed that the 3-year-old was a victim of abuse. The 3-year-old died at the hospital, and police initiated a manslaughter investigation. A 37-year-old Waimea man was charged with manslaughter and two counts of abuse.

Community Policing officers hosted or participated in a number of events in the Waikoloa and Waimea areas, including

31—2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

outreach programs, Keiki ID, various groups, annual celebrations and pa-community-sponsored events, health rades, such as the Waimea Christmas and safety fairs hosted by various Parade.

The South Kohala District covers the area between the North Kohala District at Kiowa and the Kona District at Kauaʻi Point. Its police station is located at 67-5185 Kamamalu Street in Waimea.

Kona Patrol

Kealakehe Police Station serves as the main station for the Kona Patrol Division and houses a cellblock detention section and an evidence section.

During Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, the Kona Patrol clerks processed 2,906 firearms registrations, including handguns, rifles and shotguns. Of these registered firearms, 1,679 were imported from outside the state.

The evidence section, which is staffed by two evidence custodians, is responsible for the storage and preservation of more than 80,000 pieces of evidence recovered in criminal investigations. The preservation of these pieces of evidence is critical to the successful prosecution of these criminal cases.

Kona Patrol welcomed 19 new police officers who graduated from the police recruit program in December 2011.

Kona Patrol officers responded to more than 3,400 criminal complaints and more than 15,000 calls for service related to non-criminal complaints, such as minor nuisances or persons needing assistance.

They also issued 18,428 citations, of which 2,363 were for speeding violations. In a department-wide effort to combat distracted driving, Kona Patrol officers issued 981 citations for using an electronic device (cell phone) while driving. In addition, 410 drivers were arrested for suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Kona District received 3,912 court documents, of which 2,477 were served.

The Kona Community Policing Unit is headed by a police sergeant and consists of two school resource officers, six community policing officers and a sergeant. They focus on addressing community-related issues in the North and South Kona areas. Their responsibilities also include bike patrol in the Ali‘i Drive area and beach sweeps to ensure the safety of the tourist community and businesses and to address the growing number of transient homeless persons attracted to the warm climate. Community Policing’s problem-solving efforts include spearheading Neighborhood Watch groups and crime reduction details.

The Kona Patrol Special Enforcement Unit consists of officers from patrol and Community Policing. They focus on crime analysis and identification of persons of interest directly related to crime trends in the Kona area, ranging from car break-ins at Hookena Beach Park to burglaries in the Holualoa area. This task-force type unit also works closely with the Area II Vice and Criminal Investigations Sections.

Kaʻū District

During Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, Kaʻū Patrol officers investigated 77 major traffic accidents, an increase from the 69 investigated in Fiscal Year 2010–2011. Traffic enforcement was a focal point as officers issued more than 2,900 citations. Of those, 592 were for speeding and 207 were for seat belt or child restraint violations.

Emphasis on traffic enforcement remains an important factor in addressing the number of major traffic accidents and plays an important part in keeping our roads safe for our community members and visitors alike.

Kaʻū Patrol officers investigated more than 1,300 incidents in the Kaʻū District. Officers investigated 76 burglaries, an increase of 59 cases the previous fiscal year. Theft and unauthorized entry into motor vehicle cases also rose from 168 to 199. Well established and active Neighborhood Watch groups in the Discovery Harbour and the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivisions continue to be vital in keeping our communities safe.

The most significant events occurring during Fiscal Year 2011 –2012 were:

From February through July 2012, Sergeant Cory Koi supervised a Burglary Detail, consisting of Officers John Smith Jr. and Henry Ivy, to combat rising burglary and theft rates in the district. In cooperation with Kaʻū Patrol officers and detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section, they made more than 60 arrests and recovered stolen property from a number of burglaries and thefts. Aided by information from this detail, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney obtained a nuisance abatement order against a number of individuals residing on a property in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision where drugs were being exchanged for stolen property. This order essentially evicted them from this property. As the detail concluded, burglaries dropped from a high of 12 in the month of January 2012 to just one in June 2012.

In December 2011, Kaʻū Patrol officers and Area II Vice officers conducted an enforcement project that resulted in 10 drug, firearms and forfeiture cases being initiated.

The Kaʻū District is bounded by the Kona District at Kaulanamaua and the Puna District at Keauhou Landing. Its police station is located at 95-5353 Mamalahoa Highway in Na‘alehu.

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Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU)

Commander: Sgt. Christopher Gali

The Traffic Enforcement Unit is charged with investigating traffic crashes involving death or serious injury while conducting traffic enforcement and training related to traffic enforcement and investigation. It is staffed by a sergeant and seven police officers.

In Fiscal Year 2011 –2012, TEU investigated 20 fatal crashes that killed 20 people. All but six of those fatal crashes involved alcohol, drugs or both. Alcohol alone was a factor in two of the fatal crashes, drugs alone were a factor in four and a combination of drugs and alcohol were a factor in eight.

The officers also issued 7,305 moving citations, of which 4,207 were for speeding. They issued 4,073 regulatory citations and made 382 other arrests.

On June 9, 2011, Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored the three traffic enforcement unit officers below, along with other officers from around the island, at a ceremony at Encore restaurant in Hilo for their numerous arrests for drunk driving.

Officer Andres Fojas, 86

Officer Clarence Davies, 78

Officer Joshua Lewis, 80

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Grants

The following grants were funded by state or federal agencies during Fiscal Year 2011 –2012:

Click It or Ticket’ Basketball

To reduce fatalities and injuries to occupants aged 17 and under during motor vehicle collisions. This was accomplished by improving awareness of state laws to increase the seat belt usage rate of youths and teens ages 4–7.

DATA Grant

To establish a statewide traffic data system and ensure compliance with national standards.

Hawaiʻi Impact

To combat the methamphetamine (“ice”) drug problem in the County of Hawaiʻi by conducting various sting operations.

Hawaiʻi Narcotics Task Force

To assist with the interdiction of drugs within the County of Hawaiʻi via the apprehension/ arrest/conviction of individuals smuggling narcotics into, out of and within the County of Hawaiʻi.

Roadblock Grant

To reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries, increase public awareness and provide a constant deterrence against impaired driving.

Seat Belt Enforcement Grant

To reduce fatalities and injuries to front-seat occupants and rear-seat occupants aged 17 and under by increasing the usage rate of seat belts.

SAFE Standby

Specialized Investigative Training

To improve the Police Department’s ability to respond to violent crimes against women through ongoing specialized training.

Cellphone/PDA

To improve the Police Department’s ability to respond to crimes against women perpetrated through wireless/electronic communication devices.

Enforcement of Protective Orders

To improve Hawaiʻi County’s ability to ensure prompt service of all protective orders.

Sexual Assault/DNA Analysis

To improve Hawaiʻi County’s ability to respond to sexual assaults and other violent crimes against adult and adolescent females with timely examinations by SAFE examiners and analysis of recovered evidence specimen.

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Budget

The following are the budget figures for Fiscal Year 2011 – 2012:

Personnel Services

Salaries and wages, straight time $31,681,631

Salaries and wages, other $ 3,236,308

Other current expenses

Contractual services $ 7,525,341

Materials and supplies $ 2,436,198

Other charges $ 157,048

Equipment $ 152,270

Miscellaneous accounts $ 933,922

Grants funded $ 1,541,315

Total $47,664,033

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Personnel Changes

New Hires

Ioni A. Andrade, School Crossing Guard

Chelsea A. Baldado, Police Radio Dispatcher I

Nicole R. K. Bello, Police Radio Dispatcher I

Brandy P. K. Lee, Police Radio Dispatcher I

Waylen L. K. Leopoldino, Human Resources Program Specialist

Marci C. Okahara, Clerk III

Talei E. Ontiveros, Police Radio Dispatcher I

Camille A. Ridley-Parks, Police Radio Dispatcher I

Scott I. Uehara, Information Systems Analyst V

Frank M. Yoshida, Building Custodian/ Groundskeeper I

Promotions

Albert Jason Cortez, Captain

Paul H. Kealoha Jr., Assistant Police Chief

Patricia O. Lopez, Police Investigative Operations Clerk

Reed K. Mahuna, Lieutenant

James B. O’Connor, Major

Richard J. K. Sherlock, Captain

Aimee J. F. Wana, Captain

Retirements

Senior Account Clerk Carol Ann S. L. Alina

Sergeant Grace M. Castillo

Sergeant Darrell C. Huston

Officer Derwin R. Ignacio Lieutenant

Sergeant Kelly K. Kaaumoana-Matsumoto

Clerk III Jacqueline M. Kaya

Lieutenant Joseph T. Lally III

Information Systems Analyst V Linda H. Nako

Investigative Operations Clerk Ina B. Rego

Officer John P. Stewart

Captain James N. Sanborn

Lieutenant Harold L Sumaoang

Radio Dispatcher II Robert M. Taylor Jr.

Lieutenant Glenn Y. Uehana

Captain Kenneth F. Vieira

39—2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

HAWAII COUNTY

In 2011, 13.6% of Hawaii’s population resided in Hawaii County. During 2011, 11.0% of the State’s Index Crimes, 14.2% of the violent crimes, and 10.7% of the property crimes were reported in Hawaii County.

The total number of reported Index Crimes decreased 9.8% in Hawaii County in 2011, with violent Index Crimes down 4.5% and property Index Crimes down 10.4%. Five Index Crime categories decreased from 2010 to 2011: forcible rape, 25.9%; robbery, 21.5%; burglary, 17.1%; larceny-theft, 7.4%; and motor vehicle theft, 17.0%. The other two Index Crime categories increased from 2010 to 2011: aggravated assault, 4.6%; and arson, 85.7%.

Reported Part II Offenses decreased 4.7% in 2011.

Hawaii County’s total Index and property crime rates in 2011 were the lowest in the State of Hawaii.

The table on the following page lists the actual numbers of reported offenses, excluding traffic, in Hawaii County during the past 10 years. The population of Hawaii County increased 20.8% during this period, while the number of reported Index Offenses decreased 25.0%. Three of the eight Index Crimes showed increases over the decade, including forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

Index Crimes – Murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. However, due to a different method of counting, arson is not included in the totals of reported Index Offenses and Index & Part II Offenses.

From 2010 to 2011:

• Reported Index Crimes decreased 9.0% in rate.

Comparing 2011 to 2002:

• The Index Crime rate declined 37.9%.

In 2011, of the 5,201 Index Offenses reported:

• Property crimes accounted for 90.6% (4,710).

• Violent crimes accounted for 9.4% (491).

Hawaii County’s total Index Crime rate in 2011 was the lowest in the State of Hawaii.

Hawaii County’s total Index Crime rate in 2011 was the lowest on record since the start of statewide data collection in 1975.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2012). Crime in Hawaii, 2010: A Review of Uniform Crime Reports. State of Hawaii: Department of the Attorney General.

Aggravated Assault – The unlawful attack or attempted attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.

From 2010 to 2011:

Reported aggravated assaults increased 5.6% in rate.

Comparing 2011 to 2002:

The aggravated assault rate increased 125.9%.

In 2011, of the 363 reported aggravated assaults:

Other dangerous weapons were involved in 40.2% (146).

Strongarm (hands, fists, feet, etc.) accounted for 38.6% (140).

Knives or other cutting instruments were involved in 15.7% (57).

Firearms were involved in 5.5% (20).

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2012). Crime in Hawaii, 2010: A Review of Uniform Crime Reports. State of Hawaii: Department of the Attorney General.

Property Crimes – Burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Arson is also a property crime; however, due to a different method of counting, it is not included in the totals of property crimes, Index Crimes, and total Index & Part II Offenses.

From 2010 to 2011:

Reported property crimes decreased 9.5% in rate.

Comparing 2011 to 2002:

The property crime rate decreased 42.0%.

In 2011, of the 4,710 property crimes reported:

Larceny-theft accounted for 71.3% (3,360).

Burglary accounted for 20.1% (946).

Motor vehicle theft accounted for 8.6% (404).

Hawaii County’s property crime rate in 2011 was the lowest in the State of Hawaii.

Hawaii County’s property crime rate in 2011 was the lowest on record since the start of statewide data collection in 1975.

Source—Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (2012). Crime in Hawaii, 2010: A Review of Uniform Crime Reports. State of Hawaii: Department of the Attorney General.